Why San Antonio Pool Buyers Are Ditching Concrete for Fiberglass
At the San Antonio Home and Garden Show, Jeff and Kelley Turner of Staycation Fiberglass Pools join host Justin McKenzie to expose uncertified builders, 'concrete cancer' ASR failures, and the questions every homeowner should ask before signing a pool contract.
San Antonio, TX (Newsworthy.ai) Monday Sep 21, 2026 @ 2:30 AM CDT
The Building Texas Show — San Antonio Homeowners Are Choosing Fiberglass—Here's Why
Photo: Justin McKenzie
“In Texas, you need more certifications to do hair than you do to build a pool. It's wild. And you need to be a chemist to be a hairdresser, and you don't need to be a chemist to build a pool.”
The latest episode of The Building Texas Show, hosted by Justin McKenzie, was recorded live at the San Antonio Home and Garden Show and released September 14, 2026. Titled San Antonio Homeowners Are Choosing Fiberglass, Here's Why, the episode features Jeff and Kelley Turner, owners of Staycation Fiberglass Pools, in the second installment of the show's San Antonio Home and Garden Series.
The Building Texas Show — San Antonio Homeowners Are Choosing Fiberglass—Here's Why
Photo: Justin McKenzie
“In Texas, you need more certifications to do hair than you do to build a pool. It's wild. And you need to be a chemist to be a hairdresser, and you don't need to be a chemist to build a pool.”
A wave of concrete pools built during the COVID-era construction boom are now failing. Repair bills are landing in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and the Turners spend a good chunk of the episode explaining why.
Jeff and Kelley walk McKenzie through the questions every homeowner should ask before signing a pool contract:
-
The rise of ASR - “concrete cancer” - in pools built during and after COVID
-
Why Texas requires no certification to build a pool, and what PHTA (Pool and Hot Tub Association) certification actually covers
-
The true cost of a low bid, and what a genuine turnkey fiberglass price should include
-
Why manufacturer warranties from builders like San Juan and Aqua Technics matter
-
Renovation options, including EcoFinish flame-applied polymer resurfacing
Jeff doesn't soften the point about who's regulating this industry:
“In Texas, you need more certifications to do hair than you do to build a pool. It's wild. And you need to be a chemist to be a hairdresser, and you don't need to be a chemist to build a pool.”
He described fielding calls from homeowners whose concrete shells are disintegrating - forcing $200,000 to $400,000 tear-outs that most builders carry no insurance to cover. Kelley has her own way of framing the manufacturer relationship:
“You're dating us as a builder...”
She finishes the thought in the episode - it's one of the more useful ways we've heard a builder explain what a warranty is actually worth.
The Turners also break down a hybrid negative-edge rebuild they recently completed in Dripping Springs - a rescue job for a client whose original fiberglass installer left them with a one-year-old pool that looked thirty. The full build sequence, from shell to a 30-foot infinity edge over the Hill Country, is in the video.
See how they rebuilt it - watch on YouTube
They credit training from Jason Hughes and River Pools, out of Virginia and Illinois, for shaping how they educate clients before they ever sign a contract. San Juan (more than 70 years in the business) and Australia-based Aqua Technics are the two manufacturers they point to as warranty benchmarks - and bonding, pump sizing, and deck scope are where they say cut-rate contracts quietly fail.
Homeowners can see the Turners' completed projects at staycationfiberglasspools.com.
FAQ: Concrete vs. Fiberglass Pools in Texas
Why are so many Texas concrete pools failing right now?
Many were built during the COVID-era construction rush, when demand outpaced skilled labor and oversight. The Turners say a large share of those pools are now showing ASR, or “concrete cancer,” and repairs can run $200,000 to $400,000.
Does Texas require a license to build a pool?
No. Texas has no state certification requirement for pool builders. PHTA certification exists, but it's voluntary - homeowners have to ask for it. Jeff explains exactly what that gap means for a homeowner signing a contract in the full episode.
What separates a real turnkey fiberglass quote from a low bid?
Engineering plans, proper bonding, correctly sized pump equipment, and full deck scope - the Turners walk through where cut-rate contracts quietly cut corners, and what to ask a builder before you sign.
Watch More From The Building Texas Show
This episode is part of an ongoing series profiling the builders, tradespeople, and entrepreneurs shaping the Texas economy - recorded live at events like the San Antonio Home and Garden Show. New episodes post 2-3 times a week.
Subscribe to The Building Texas Show on YouTube
About The Building Texas Show
The Building Texas Show, hosted by Justin McKenzie, profiles the entrepreneurs, tradespeople, and innovators shaping the Texas economy. Through on-location conversations at events like the San Antonio Home and Garden Show, the podcast delivers practical, consumer-facing insight from the operators actually doing the work. This episode is available now wherever podcasts are heard.
Media Contact:
Justin McKenzie
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is ASR, or 'concrete cancer,' and why is it a growing problem in Texas pools?
- ASR is a reaction inside concrete that causes pool shells to disintegrate from the inside out. Jeff Turner says Staycation is fielding calls from homeowners whose concrete pools installed during or shortly after COVID are falling apart, with tear-out and replacement costs running $200,000 to $400,000. Most builders carry no insurance for it, forcing claims through homeowner's policies.
- What certification do the Turners hold, and why does it matter in an unregulated industry?
- Jeff and Kelley Turner are Certified Builder Professionals through the PHTA, the Pool and Hot Tub Association, which sets industry standards and advocates for builders from local municipalities up to D.C. Because Texas requires no license to build a pool, PHTA certification is one of the few benchmarks a homeowner has for verifying that a contractor is trained on current construction and safety practices.
- Why do Jeff and Kelley Turner warn against choosing the lowest bid?
- Low bids in the $29,000 to $49,000 range often exclude major scope items like decking, bonding, and proper pump sizing. Jeff describes one contractor whose scope ended once the shell was in the ground, leaving the homeowner to scramble for concrete work at a $30,000 surprise. Staycation quotes full turnkey pricing so clients can finance the true project cost up front.
- What went wrong with the Dripping Springs pool Staycation rebuilt?
- A previous fiberglass installer delivered a one-year-old negative-edge pool that looked 30 years old, with no engineering plans, an undersized pump, and nothing built correctly. Staycation set a new shell, wrapped it in rebar, shot shotcrete footers and basin, and finished with a 30-foot infinity edge overlooking the Hill Country. Jeff called it his favorite build to engineer.
- What is EcoFinish, and how does Staycation use it on older pools?
- EcoFinish is a flame-applied polymer coating Staycation uses to resurface aging or chemically damaged fiberglass pools. Kelley describes it as a dramatic process to watch, and the result is a renewed finish that often looks better than the pool's original surface. It lets homeowners revive inherited or worn pools without a full replacement.
- Why does Kelley Turner say buyers are 'dating the builder' but 'marrying the manufacturer'?
- The manufacturer stands behind the shell's long-term warranty, so its track record matters more than the builder's sales pitch. Kelley recommends manufacturers that have outlived their warranties without bankruptcy, like San Juan at 70-plus years and Aqua Technics at 50-plus years. She warns against conglomerates that have only been making pools 10 to 12 years and haven't proven a 'lifetime' claim.
- What service area does Staycation Fiberglass Pools cover?
- Staycation serves San Antonio and the surrounding region, reaching south to Dilley, east to Seguin, north to San Marcos and Wimberley, around Canyon Lake, and west to Kerrville. Their office is at 7310 Caribou off Bandera Road and Eckert, and homeowners can reach them at 210-997-POOL or staycationfiberglasspools.com.
Media Contact
Other Recent News for The Building Texas Show
- Tuff Shed Pitches San Antonio on Ditching Paid Storage for Backyard Builds
- Revolutionizing Affordable Housing: MHarketplace Connects Communities and Services
- Behind-the-Meter Power: Why Texas Data Centers Can't Lean on the Grid
- LiftFund Launches $10K Grants for Hill Country Flood-Hit Small Businesses
- Bart Davis of 512Financial: Why Founders' First Two Hires Should Be a Controller and HR Lead